Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/09/2013

Oh goodness, I'm so tired of being busy, I need to slow down and very soon.

You know what I miss the most?  Just sitting on my couch with my crochet, watching mindless TV.  Maybe in a month or two I can finally get there, but for now there is just too much going on around me.

I want to quickly apologize to you all for not yet making it around to visit you, I assure you that it's on my mind and that every day I say to myself that I need to go say hi, and then life gets in the way and by the time I get a free moment it's 11pm.  I do thank you all for continuing to come by and visiting me through this difficult busy adjustment period :)


The weather.....
Cold this morning.  I actually feel great saying that LOL  It's only 50 degrees this morning, usually I only saw that kind of temp in December back in Arizona, I think I need to get my body used to cold weather again. 

Right now I am....
Thanking the Lord above for again seeing us through a difficult time.  Writing this post up, planning lessons and thinking about what I have to do today. 

Thinking....
That I'm blessed in so many ways and that I need to remember that when a struggle arises, instead of going straight into worry mode.  

On my reading pile....
Have two books from the library to finish reading, both from the Civil War period.  Also have quite a few for reviews coming up :)     

On my TV.....
Same thing, still haven't had a chance to watch any of it.
The Great British Bake Off
Hell on Wheels
True Blood
White Queen
Breaking Amish

On the menu for this week....
Have been making a lot of easy meals, all Portuguese and from my childhood.  Everyone here has been enjoying every single minute of it.

Monday - Amish Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday -  Tacos, Mexican Rice, Salad
Wednesday - Italian Crockpot Sandwiches
Thursday - Chicken Spaghetti
Friday -  Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Beef Stew
Sunday - Veggie Soup, Sandwiches, Fruit

On my to do list....
Laundry
Homeschooling with 4 kiddos
Take my brother to the bank
Take my brother to get his car registration
Take my niece to dancing
Take remaining 3 kiddos to Tae Kwon Do

In the craft basket....
Crochet, crochet, crochet.  I'm told myself that there is no more putting it off, it's time to get through my huge pile of yarn and start cranking out the projects so I can start selling them.
  
Looking forward to this week....
Oh boy....I am just basically looking forward to some quiet time whenever I can get it.  Not sure when that will be LOL
Also looking forward to one of my favorite shows returning "Haven".

Looking around the house....
The two boys are up and playing on the X-Box.  Hubby left for work early this morning.
I have some dishes in the sink that need to be washed, a dishwasher that needs to be emptied and refilled, and some other housework.
Living room needs picking up and I need to give my carpets a good cleaning, they're not dirty but I like running the carpet cleaner at least twice a month. 

From the camera....
This past Saturday it was Air Force Appreciation Day.  It was fun seeing the parade that we used to attend and also seeing my husband's old Squadron at this base. 

On my prayer list.....
My stepmom
My father
My brother and sister in law, they have put in job applications in quite a few places so hoping to hear something back soon

Bible verse, Devotional....
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV)

Lowcountry Bombshell - TLC Book Tour

Lowcountry Bombshell

Susan Boyer

Private Investigator Liz Talbot thinks she’s seen another ghost when she meets Calista McQueen. She’s the spitting image of Marilyn Monroe. Born precisely fifty years after the ill-fated star, Calista’s life has eerily mirrored the late starlet’s—and she fears the looming anniversary of Marilyn’s death will also be hers.

Before Liz can open a case file, Calista’s life coach is executed. Suspicious characters swarm around Calista like mosquitoes on a sultry lowcountry evening: her certifiable mother, a fake aunt, her control-freak psychoanalyst, a private yoga instructor, her peculiar housekeeper, and an obsessed ex-husband. Liz digs in to find a motive for murder, but she’s besieged with distractions. Her ex has marriage and babies on his mind. Her too-sexy partner engages in a campaign of repeat seduction. Mamma needs help with Daddy’s devotion to bad habits. And a gang of wild hogs is running loose on Stella Maris.

With the heat index approaching triple digits, Liz races to uncover a diabolical murder plot in time to save not only Calista’s life, but also her own.

About Susan Boyer

Susan M. Boyer has been making up stories her whole life. She tags along with her husband on business trips whenever she can because hotels are great places to write: fresh coffee all day and cookies at 4 p.m. They have a home in Greenville, SC, which they occasionally visit, and they run away to the beach as often as possible.

Susan’s debut novel, Lowcountry Boil, is an Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense recipient, and a 2012 RWA Golden Heart® finalist. Her next book, Lowcountry Bombshell, will be released September 3, 2013.
Susan’s short fiction has appeared in moonShine Review, Spinetingler Magazine, and Relief Journal, among others.

To learn more about Susan, visit susanmboyerbooks.com. You can also connect with Susan on Facebook and Twitter,  see what she’s pinning on Pinterest, and find her on Goodreads.

My thoughts:
So first and foremost, you all know that I'm not a fan of murder mystery, but once in a while a certain book will catch my eye and I find myself enjoying it immensely.

So, Liz is the main character and I fell in love with her pretty much from the get go which made the book that more interesting to me.

The author delivers mystery, romance, and all these crazy characters which make for such an enjoyable read, there were quite a few funny moments too....imagine trying to solve a mystery while having to worry about a gang of wild hogs running around LOL

And boy, what a mystery it was, you never know who did it right until the end of the book, and that for me is a HUGE plus. 

I truly enjoyed spending my quiet moments with this book in my lap and Susan Boyer is an author that I will definitely read in the future.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me with a review copy.

Family outing!

On Sunday we packed a picnic and headed out towards Glenns Ferry. It's a very small town on the banks of the Snake River, but it's beautiful and peaceful and the perfect place to have a small lunch and enjoy the fresh air.

One of the best things about these day trips is that you don't spend money, especially if the museums are free, which this one was.

As much as I love taking a peek back in time, I have to admit that my favorite items are house related.  Anything to do with the kitchen, bedrooms, living rooms is where I am most excited to be.

So I have to show you the items that most caught my eye...

Oh if only.  I have a huge fascination for old sewing machines, I think it's because of all the time I spent with my grandmother helping her sew when she had her job as a seamstress.

And then of course crochet, because well....I think you know why :)

I would love this stove, it's gorgeous and I absolutely adore the blue.

If I had to pick a way to spend a weekend, I will say that it's surrounded by family, going for drives, enjoying museums and having picnics.

What is your favorite way to spend the weekend?

Happy Homemaker Monday - 09/02/2013

Good Morning ladies and Happy Labor Day :)

Sure hope everyone is having a great weekend so far.  I wasn't sure if I would put this up today but I figured since everyone is home anyway, might as well get it posted, right?

The weather.....
It's been getting cooler in the mornings and it's starting to feel like Fall which I'm so excited about.  we've had a bit of weather here and there, but today it's really cloudy with a chance of rain so I'm hoping it comes through. 

 

Right now I am....
Writing this post up, working on the menus and grocery list, working out a new budget and talking to hubby.....oh and drinking coffee.  Multitasking at it's finest.

Thinking....
About how happy I am that everything is getting back to a normal routine and how excited I am to get back to my daily blogging :)

On my reading pile....
Finishing my library books before they are due.  I've been on a Civil War kick lately so I've sought out anything to do with that time period.    

On my TV.....
Hell on Wheels
True Blood
White Queen
Breaking Amish

On the menu for this week....
Some things ended up not being made because I switched them around on the menu, so they're back on and hopefully will be done this time.

Monday - Sausages with tomato sauce, rice
Tuesday -  Stuffed Peppers
Wednesday - Broiled Parmesan Tilapia, Garlic Potatoes
Thursday - Rissois de Galinha( Chicken Rissoles), Salad
Friday -  Homemade Pizza
Saturday - Feijoada (Portuguese Bean Stew)
Sunday - Steaks with Pepper Sauce, Fries

On my to do list....
Guess what?  I have laundry to wash again and some left to iron and fold.  Aren't you excited for me?  *BLECH*
Run to the library
Finish claims for our move

In the craft basket....
Dishcloths, afghans, baby booties.  I keep adding things to the list, just wondering why I'm doing this since I haven't even gotten around to finishing what is already there?

  
Looking forward to this week....
My niece is starting at a new dance studio, she's been dancing since she was 5 so she's excited to get back into it after taking two months off for the move overseas.
My hubby is going to be at the Police Station for training.....and then we have the usual homeschooling etc going on.

Looking around the house....
Kids are all asleep, hubby is sitting at the dinner table with me doing his college homework.  It's cloudy and dreary outside so the house seems very dark.  The dishwasher is loaded, the kitchen is clean and the only sound emanating from the living room is the snoring of the pugs and the water in the fish tank.

From the camera....
I love bonnets and have been wanting a few for a while, but this is the only one I have so far.  I think I need to find some cute cheap fabric and make a few more.

On my prayer list.....

My stepmom

My father

Bible verse, Devotional....
The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:64 NIV

And so we move forward!

That's it!

As of Friday, my husband is officially retired from the Air Force.  What a weird feeling it is.  I have to tell you that I don't quite know how to feel yet.

On the one hand I'm excited for this new journey, but on the other hand it's sad to see this Chapter in our lives come to an end.  It's been all we've known for so long.


Right, so onwards we go and I'm excited to see what is ahead for our family.

Thank the Lord, my husband started working last week.  You know we've put it all in His hands since the beginning and we've been faithful and haven't questioned the path we're on, and I think we're being rewarded and taken care of because of that.  So thankful that Curt was able to not only find a job already but start working as well.

I know that I haven't been around, matter of fact I've been downright awful at blogging the past month, and I am not going to even try to explain the why's because you all know how busy I've been, but I just can't let the blog sit in the corner and gather dust.   I have to make a genuine effort to get back to my normal blogging.

You know the other day I actually went and looked through some of your blogs and I felt like I've missed out on so much.  It's almost like a whole year has gone by in the time that I've been away from the blog.

As we move forward with this new Chapter, things are falling into place.  I'm back to my normal routine, homeschooling, cooking and baking and homemaking, crocheting and photography and everything that makes me.....well....ME.

I'm hoping that this is the kick off to my return to my blog, not that I was gone, but I wasn't really updating and it's not like I forgot about because every single day I would tell myself that I need to sit down and compile a post but by the time I got a few spare moments, it was 11pm and I just climbed into bed and fell asleep.

Let's see how things go starting this week :)  For now, I'll leave you with pictures of my past week.....